London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hillingdon 1971

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hillingdon]

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30 children were ascertained in this category during 1971. The most seriously physically
handicapped children are in the special schools, either day or residential. Five children are at
present in residential schools and 41 in day schools. The latter attend either Martindale School
for the Physically Handicapped in the London Borough of Hounslow or St. Michael's School for
Physically Handicapped Children at Eastcote.
Cerebral palsy still presents the largest number of children in this category. The problems
posed by children suffering from this condition are many and require the concerted efforts of many
disciplines. Education by specialist teachers in small groups is essential for often mental retardation
is accompanied by defects in the body and the Educational Psychologist has much to contribute
in this field. At St. Michael's School, in close co-operation with the teaching programme, physiotherapy
and speech therapy are given. Physiotherapy is reinforced by archery to develop the
muscles of the upper limbs, and fine finger work is assisted by teaching pupils to play musical
instruments such as recorders, triangles and drums, etc. Indeed the school "orchestra" is a thriving
and musically competent qroup which has qiven much pleasure to parents, friends and visitors.

The school, however, accepts children with a variety of physical handicaps. The 25 children on the roll are as follows:

Cerebral palsy10
Spina bifida5
Congenital heart disease3
Muscular dystrophy3
Hemiplegia2
Congenital dislocation of hip1
Post road traffic accident1

Martindale School for Physically Handicapped Children, Hounslow, has accepted 15 children from Hillingdon:

Cerebral palsy9
Congenital heart disease2
Haemophilia1
Rheumatoid arthritis1
Post paralytic poliomyelitis1
Motor retardation1

St. Michael's School, Joel Street, Eastcote
I am grateful to Mr. Thornton, Headteacher, for the following report:
"During 1971, St. Michael's has changed from a residential school to a day school. This was
done in two stages—after half-term of the Autumn term the Boarding Unit was closed at weekends
and at the end of the term the Boarding Unit was closed completely.
There is now a much wider range of craft and practical subjects available, including horticulture,
home economics, pottery, enamelling and modelling of various types. Events during the
year have included a concert given to the parents on prize day which featured the orchestral use
by the children of various instruments including the piano, organ, glockenspiel, xylophone, guitar,
tenor and descant recorders and tuned drums. The success of the school Sports Day was helped
by the participation and interest of many of the parents.
St. Michael's also had some success at the Area Physically Handicapped Schools Sports
held at Martindale School, Hounslow, doing particularly well at archery, the wheelchair dash and
wheelchair slalom. Another event of the Summer term was a school picnic which took place in
a local park, and was enjoyed by all. With the help of the Ruislip Round Table our Summer Fete
was particularly successful and a nett profit was shown of over £800. This money was passed to
the friends of St. Michael's Club Room Fund which now stands at almost £2,800. This means
that with parental help the school will be able to erect a Club Room as soon as a definite decision
has been made with regard to re-building or extension. Another co-operative venture between
the parents and staff was a firework party, held in carefully controlled conditions, with regard to
safety, and added to by the provision of traditional "bonfire night" food.
The last main social occasion of the calendar year was the Christmas play. 'A Shepherd's
Tale' by Steuart Allin was chosen, and with the help of the staff, the children provided the considerable
amount of orchestral music needed, as well as the drama content. Both performances
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